I'm back from Mexico!! I had a fabulous time, but I'm happy to be home with all my yarn and family of course. I brought along a knitting project, but had absolutely no opportunities to knit on my trip. I only had internet access temporarily for a couple of days, and so you may had noticed that I was absent on Ravelry and Twitter. I really had high hopes that the hotel would have at least free internet in the lobby for its guest, but unfortunately, that was not the case. Other than the absence of knitting and internet, the trip and the wedding were spectacular!

This week I have a fun photo shoot to share of some of my more recent completed projects, and a fun giveaway of a pattern I recently had a chance to knit up. This past Sunday my family and I took a little trip to the beach by my parents' house in Mukilteo and I got them to model for me!

Modeled by: Daniel Burda, my bro. He originally picked out this yarn when he spent the day driving me around to all the yarn stores on the LYS Tour. His highschool's colors are purple and silver - thus the color choice. By the way, it's "No Shave November" at his school right now and that's why he's got that lovely scruffy face!

Modeled by: Teresa Infelise She is a good friend of my brother's from school, and she was kind enough to meet us at the beach last minute and pose in the lovely hat! Thanks, Teresa! This Dindy Beret is all mine though! Isn't the color fantastic?!

Modeled by: Jasmine Jobe I loved this cowl from the minute I saw it! I knew I eventually had to knit this up. This pattern took all of a couple nights of knitting and one skein of Malabrigo Worsted. The pattern is very easy to follow and uses short rows to create the hood. My pics are a little deceiving, but Jasmine is wearing the cowl doubled around her neck like an infinity cowl. I think this pattern is absolutely perfect ladies of all ages - including those hard to knit for teenagers. Jasmine is not quite a teenager, but she loves the one I knit up for her and plans to take it to Whistler with her next week to show it off.

Melynda was kind enough to donate a few PDF copies of this pattern for the awesome YOTH followers and I have one skein of lovely Malabrigo Worsted to donate to the pot. Take a look at this beauty...

One grand prize winner has the opportunity to win a skein of Malabrigo Worsted in the Violetas colorway and a PDF copy of the Aravis cowl pattern, and two runners up have the opportunity to win the PDF copy of the pattern.

I would like you to do the following if you would like to be entered into this week's giveaway:

Your projects look gorgeous and the malabrigo looks warm (it is snowing here in Calgary right now - there is a few centimeters on the ground already and it is projected to snow for the next few days - warm would be good)

Such a beautiful blog and a generous giveaway. Infinity cowls have become my go-to when i need a quick gift. They're quick to knit, have beautiful results, and are stylish. What more could a girl ask for!

I have a yen to get my hands on that malabrigo yarn! I love the feel of the fibers as I knit. The purple of this yarn is the perfect color for my dainty, dark haired daughter who could use a lift right now! This could seriously improve life here in Massachusetts as the cold weather is on the way! Thanks for your lovely blog and hosting this prize giveaway!

Lovely cowl, and yes I am still knitting cowls (though not as much as last year's holiday season!). Thanks for making this open comment too! This is my first visit to YOTH. Please comment on my blog to notify me if I've won.

I already plan to knit the Aravais cowl for my mother for her 86th birthday February 12th, and purple is her favorite color!I would be thrilled to be the winner! (though I am a winner every day)--Helle "GracieB" Berry